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ArchiCAD Training Session Notes

QUESTION

ANSWER SUMMARY AND NOTES

START TIME

IFC parameters. How to take a model and have its information go across to other programs in a way that when it is in another program you can get data from it about objects within the model.

IFC is generally a way to share an intelligent building model from ArchiCAD to other programs including structural and/or energy analysis or other things. If you use IFC for objects then its data is unlimited and powerful to be able to attach. In AC object id’s are limited to 15 characters. In the IFC Properties box you can put long text in Description if you need. This information will go with the model if you share it and it can also be scheduled. Normally if you place a library object you can choose to label it and it’s ID will come up which you can then choose what type of label that is editable.

0:02:11

Favorites

Window>Palettes>Favorites. When you set up templates for your office, you can set them up with objects you use regularly saved as favorites with all of the parameters set the way you want. This minimizes editing.

0:12:40

What is Master Script?

A Dutch company by a GDL programmer who works for the distributor of ArchiCAD. His name is Jeroen de Bruin. www.masterscript.nl. He has quite a few interesting and powerful tools including Total Zone that was integrated into Master Template this year.

0:14:33

Zone stamp. Can room dimensions be displayed?

The built-in zone stamps can display area but not room dimensions. In Master Script they have additional parameters for a zone stamp that allow you to grab handles and pull the dimensions out to a room and it will display the room dimensions. This is built into the potential of AC but this other program adds to it and it has extensive material/finish lists controlled easily, it has multi-line zone names, and options for view point dependant offset and rotation. You can buy this separately for 40 Euros or it is included in Master Template 17.

0:15:30

Can you get square foot calculations from the morph tool?

In AC 17 the schedule should have the square foot measurement of a morph. Go to any schedule, go to scheme settings and create a new schedule called Morph and set parameters for area by story and volume by story.

0:19:14

Do settings a parameters need to be changed when exporting files for Revit?

It’s complicated. It is not sensible at this time to do “round trip” exporting between ArchiCAD and Revit because IFC is not good enough at this stage. What IFC is good for is if you want to send a 3D model to someone for a reference, such as to a structural engineer and they could use your file as a reference for their own work. They can then send you an IFC file showing the structural elements that you can then merge into your AC model. If you need to do this plan time to figure it out. Your IFC model will have all the fundamental parameters about all the elements within it for outside users such as quantity surveyors.

0:31:20

If an AC user receives an IFC from Revit, can it be converted to an ArchiCAD model?

It would be messy with a lot of editing to do. Exporting FROM ArchiCAD to another program is very good. IFC is good for reference, viewing, and analysis. To save a file as an IFC go to File>Save As and choose what IFC you want (the first is a good one to try).

0:35:00

How to get the length and width of a morph

You can see them on each floor at the cut plane. If you want to show them at the base of the story, you can change the cut plane manually to zero. Go to Document>Floor Plan Cut Plane to do this.

0:40:16

Total zone

In Master Template if you go to a view call Room Finish Plans you can see a zone stamp that is using a version of Total Zone using Master Script that calculates the total zone. If you switch to different views the zone stamp will change because the model view options are different for each view.

0:42:27

Custom materials for morphs

You can change the surface material manually by checking the box in the info palette allowing you to override the surface in AC 17. If you want a semi-transparent material you can look at “glass clear” is has a transmittance of 60% by going to Options>Element Attributes>Surfaces. To make your own, choose a surface you like, duplicate it, name it, and change the surface color. If you want to color each side of the morph differently. You can use the special open arrow tool to select just one surface of the morph and change it to another color. Then you will have to switch your arrow back to normal when done. Shift and Control gives you the open arrow for selecting one face in the morph tool.

0:49:52

Eye-dropping in interactive legend in Master Template

Interactive legend in Master Template. It is a set of elements that are not intended for display, but instead for eye-dropping. When you eye-drop in an element is not associated with a particular story, but is to the one you place it on. If your element places improperly onto another story, look at the settings for the object and make sure they are not designated to show on a remote story. The legend has room for you to create your own template elements.

0:55:13

Are doors and windows linked to stories the same way?

In AC 17 it might be a good idea in the settings to link your door or window to the story instead of the wall because walls can be dragged below the story base to clean up intersections is section now in AC 17 and that would affect the placement of the door or window.

1:03:30

Dimensioning. Dimensioning to center of windows and doors.

Go to the dimension tool and you can dimension walls and to centers of doors and windows by clicking on them when the dimension tool highlights as you hover over the element. You can then set your dimensions and check to see if you got the center by clicking on the tick mark for that element and seeing the element highlight. You can also in the dimension tool hold down the command or control key and add a dimension when you see the check mark of an element when hovering over it. You do not have to have the door or window markers on to dimension to them. When dimensioning, you’ll get a round marker when its attached to an element and a square one if you place a dimension marker out in space. This lets you know that the dimension is not attached. You can delete a tick mark if it is not attached to anything. You can break a dimension up into pieces by selecting the middle part and deleting it.

1:09:27

Window and door markers showing up

In the settings for the door or window or in the info box you can choose what kind of marker or no marker. You can also go to the Model View Options and choose to show door and window markers or not. Also in a remodel project you can change your views from existing to new construction plans. This is in Renovation Filter Options.

1:17:18

Morph as a trim or moulding or casing around a window or a door

In a standard door you only have a rectangular casing. You can turn that off in the door settings. Then go to the morph tool and draw a morph in an elevation view to be able to snap to the door. You have to drag the morph in plan to the door and check it in 3D. You can also go to the library and select a door casing. You can place that element and explode it in the current view. Now you have lines that you can trace with the magic wand in the morph tool. Then mirror it and drag it to the door frame. Then go to 3D and extend the morph up using the tube button in the pet palette in the morph tool in 3D. For a arched top door, turn off the casings, then go your elevation view and work with it as lines and curve the morph top. Watch video for additional detail here.